On Sunday, February 11, 2024, the Provincialate, North-eastern Ohio SSS communities and Saint Paschal Baylon parish, Highland Heights, honored and celebrated the sixty years Brother Gary LaVerdière SSS has been a religious brother of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.

Growing up in Winslow/Waterville, Maine, Brother Gary was “raised” in the SSS family with a father, brother, and uncle studying for the Blessed Sacrament Community. His father chose a different vocation, but Gary’s older brother Eugene decided to enter our religious life in the Congregation. (Father Gene died in 2008). Brother Gary’s sister, Claudette, pursued her vocation as a religious sister with Maryknoll. His brother Peter and his wife live in South Carolina.

Brother Gary went to Hyde Park High School seminary and served the Congregation there, in Maine and Uganda. After doing coursework in liturgy at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, he came to Saint Paschal Baylon in 1975. Brother Gary then became the liturgy coordinator and arts and environment leader, who is very much known for sharing his artistic talents. He jokes about how he took the fourth vow of stability, having lived in this community of religious since then.

Brother Gary also served as art director of Emmanuel Magazine and managing director of Emmanuel Publications, now Emmanuel Media, for decades. We also enjoy his landscaping and gardening talents, his Christmas manager each year on Wilson Mills Road, and he continues as House Manager of our community building and members. We are grateful for his witness of the vows and faithful, dedicated service, going where the LORD and community needed to serve! Continued good health and good wishes, Brother Gary! Thank you so much for being a religious of the Blessed Sacrament.

Fr John Thomas Lane, sss
Provincial Superior, Highland Heights, Ohio